(Cimmunuucalih  of 


SUPPLEMENT 


TO 


LAWS  RELATING  TO  ELECTIONS, 


CONTAINING 


LAWS  ENACTED  BY  THE  GENERAL  COURT  DURING  THE 
SESSION  OF  1908, 


PREPARED  BY  THE 

SECRETARY  OF  THE  COMMONWEALTH. 


BOSTON: 

WRIGHT  &  POTTER  PRINTING  CO.,  STATE  PRINTERS, 

18  POST  OFFICE  SQUARE. 

1908. 


(Hummnmuraltli  nf 


SUPPLEMENT 


TO 


LAWS  RELATING  TO  ELECTIONS, 


CONTAINING 


LAWS  ENACTED  BY  THE  GENERAL  COURT  DURING  THE 
SESSION  OF  1908. 


PREPARED  BY  THE 

SECRETARY  OF  THE  COMMONWEALTH. 


BOSTON: 

WRIGHT  &  POTTER  PRINTING  CO.,  STATE  PRINTERS, 

18  POST  OFFICE  SQUARE. 

1908. 


The  copies  of  this  pamphlet  which  are  furnished  to 
city,  town  and  other  officers  are  for  their  official  use, 
and  should  be  carefully  preserved  by  them  and  trans- 
mitted to  their  successors  in  office  so  long  as  the  laws 
contained  in  the  pamphlet  remain  in  force. 


ACTS   OF  1908. 


CHAPTER  83. 

Ax    ACT    RELATIVE    TO    THE    REGISTRATION    OF    VOTERS    IN 
THE    CITY    OF    BOSTON. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1 .     Section  eighty-two  of  chapter  five  hundred  J^^ §  8>2> 
and  sixty  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and 
seven,  providing  fora  new  general  register  of  voters  in 
the  city  of  Boston  in  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  eight 
and  in  every  twelfth  year  thereafter,  is  hereby  repealed. 

SECTION  2.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 
Approved  February  15,  1908. 


CHAPTER  85. 

Ax  ACT  RELATIVE  TO  CORRUPT  PRACTICES  IN  ELECTIONS. 
Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.     No  political  committee,  and  no  person  act-  soliciting,  etc 

money  from 


.        .  i      IP       i     ii     i  i 

under  its  authority  or  in  its  behalf,  shall-  demand  or  candidate  pro- 

•7       ,  ,  .  T    ,      ,.  ,  .         hibited,  etc. 

solicit  from  any  person  who  is  a  candidate  for  nomination 
to  elective  office,  or  from  any  one  acting  in  his  behalf,  a 
payment  of  money  or  a  promise  of  payment  of  money,  as 
a  prerequisite  to  his  obtaining  from  such  committee  or  its 
agent  the  nomination  papers  required  by  the  provisions 
of  sections  one  hundred  and  nineteen  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty-six,  inclusive,  of  chapter  five  hundred  and  sixty 
of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  seven. 

SECTION  2.     Whoever  violates  the  provisions  of  this  penalty. 
act  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not  more  than  one  hun- 
dred dollars.  Approved  February  17,  1908. 


257149 


ACTS,  1908.— CHAPS.  101,  113. 


1902,  393,  §  3, 
amended. 


Municipal 
elections  in 
Fall  River. 


Question  of 
acceptance  to 
be  submitted 
to  voters. 


When  to  take 
effect. 


CHAPTER  101. 

AN  ACT  RELATIVE  TO  MUNICIPAL  ELECTIONS  IN  THE  CITY 
OF  FALL  RIVER. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.  Section  three  of  chapter  three  hundred 
and  ninety-three  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred 
and  two  is  hereby  amended  by  striking  out  the  word 
4 'second",  in  the  second  line,  and  inserting  in  place 
thereof  the  word  :  —  first,  —  so  as  to  read  as  follows  :  — 
Section  3.  The  municipal  election  shall  take  place  annu- 
ally on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  of  Decem- 
ber, and  the  municipal  year  shall  begin  on  the  first  Monday 
of  the  following  January. 

SECTION  2 .  The  question  of  the  acceptance  of  this  act 
shall  be  submitted  to  the  legal  voters  of  the  city  of  Fall 
River  at  the  state  election  in  the  present  year.  The  vote 
shall  be  taken  by  ballot  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  chapter  eleven  of  the  Revised  Laws  and  of  acts  in  amend- 
ment thereof  and  in  addition  thereto,  so  far  as  the  same 
shall  be  applicable,  in  answer  to  the  question  :  —  Shall  an 
act  passed  by  the  general  court  in  the  year  nineteen  hun- 
dred and  eight,  entitled  "  An  Act  relative  to  municipal 
elections  in  the  city  of  Fall  River "  be  accepted  ?  and  the 
affirmative  votes  of  a  majority  voting  thereon  shall  be  re- 
quired for  its  acceptance.  Unless  so  accepted  it  shall  not 
take  effect,  but  if  so  accepted  it  shall  apply  to  the  annual 
municipal  election  to  be  held  in  the  year  nineteen  hundred 


and  eight. 


Approved  February  22,  1908. 


CHAPTER  113. 

AN  ACT  TO  REDUCE  THE   NUMBER  OF  MEMBERS   OF  THE 
SCHOOL  COMMITTEE  OF  THE  CITY  OF  MALDEN. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows  : 

?chof  Maiden1"      SECTION  1.     The  school  committee  of  the  city  of  Mal- 

eiectiou.terms,  den  shall  hereafter  consist  of  five  members,  to  be  elected 

by  such  persons  as  shall  be  qualified  to  vote  for  school 

committee  in  said  city  ;  but  no  person  shall  be  eligible  for 

election  to  the  committee  who  is  not  an  inhabitant  of  the 


ACTS,  1908.  — CHAP.  113.  5 

city  and  has  not  been  a  resident  for  at  least  three  years 
continuously  prior  to  the  election.  The  school  committee 
shall  serve  without  compensation,  and  their  terms  of  office 
shall  begin  with  the  beginning  of  the  municipal  year  fol- 
lowing their  election.  At  the  annual  municipal  election 
next  following  the  acceptance  of  this  act,  as  hereinafter 
provided,  two  persons  shall  be  elected  as  aforesaid,  to 
hold  office  for  three  years,  two  for  two  years  and  one  for 
one  year  ;  and  thereafter  at  each  annual  municipal  election 
there  shall  be  elected  for  the  term  of  three  years  so  many 
persons  as  may  be  necessary  to  nil  the  places  of  the  mem- 
ber or  members  of  said  committee  whose  term  or  terms 
are  about  to  expire.  Vacancies  in  said  committee  arising  vacancies, 
from  death,  resignation  or  otherwise  shall  be  filled  for  the 
unexpired  term  at  the  next  annual  •  municipal  election : 
provided,  however,  that  vacancies  may  be  filled  for  the  Proviso, 
remainder  of  any  municipal  year  in  the  manner  provided 
in  section  twenty-four  of  chapter  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
nine  of  the  acts  of  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  eighty- 
one. 

SECTION  2.     Upon  the  organization  of  the  school  com-  when  terms  of 
mittee  elected  under  and  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  ?ommifteeh0( 
of  this,  act  the  terms  of  office  of  the  members  of  the  present  8hallend- 
school  committee  shall  end,  and  their  powers  and  duties 
shall  cease. 

SECTION  3.  The  school  committee  elected  under  and  Ju«eesr8and 
in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act  shall  be  the 
lawful  successors  of  the  present  school  committee,  and 
shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  powers  and  privileges  conferred, 
and  subject  to  the  duties  and  obligations  imposed,  by  said 
chapter  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine  and  acts  in  amend- 
ment thereof  and  in  addition  thereto. 

SECTION  4.     So  much  of  any  act  as  is  inconsistent  here-  Repeal, 
with  is  hereby  repealed. 

SECTION  5 .     This  act  shall  be  submitted  to  the  voters  Question  of 
of  the  city  of  Maiden  at  the  annual  state  election  held  in  be^ubmltte!? 
November,  nineteen  hundred  and  eight,  and  the  form  of  tovoters- 
the  question  to  be  placed  upon  the  ballot  shall  be  as  fol- 
lows :  —  Shall  chapter  of  the  acts  of  the  year 
nineteen  hundred  and  eight,  being  "An  Act  to  reduce  the 
number  of  members  of  the  school  committee  of  the  city  of 
Maiden",  be  accepted?  and  if  a  majority  of  the  voters 
voting  thereon  shall  vote  in  the  affirmative  this  act  shall 
take  effect. 


ACTS,  1908.  — CHAP.  160. 


When  to  take 
effect. 


SECTION  6.  So  much  of  this  act  as  authorizes  its 
submission  to  the  voters  of  the  said  city  shall  take  effect 
upon  its  passage,  but  it  shall  not  take  further  effect  until 
accepted  by  the  voters  of  the  city  as  herein  provided. 

Approved  February  25,  1908. 


License  com- 
mission  of 
Montague, 
election,  terms, 
etc. 


Vacancy. 


Qualification 
of  members. 


Quorum. 


Powers  and 
duties. 


Compensation, 
etc. 


CHAPTER  160. 

Ax  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  ELECTION  OF  A  BOARD  OF 
LICENSE  COMMISSIONERS  BY  THE  TOWN  OF  MONTAGUE. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows : 

SECTION  1.  The  town  of  Montague  shall  elect  at  its 
annual  March  meeting  a  license  commission  consisting  of 
three  members,  to  serve  for  the  following  terms  :  one 
member  for  one  year,  one  member  for  two  years  and  one 
member  for  three  years.  They  shall  hold  office  until  their 
respective  successors  are  elected  and  qualified,  and  there- 
after at  every  annual  March  meeting  one  member  of  said 
board  shall  be  elected  for  the  term  of  three  years.  Any 
vacancy  in  said  board  occurring  during  the  year  shall  be 
filled  by  the  selectmen,  and  the  person  or  persons  so 
appointed  to  fill  such  vacancy  shall  serve  until  the  next 
annual  town  meeting. 

SECTION  2 .  No  member  of  the  board  shall  be  engaged 
directly  or  indirectly  in  the  manufacture  or  sale  of  intoxi- 
cating liquors,  or  hold  any  other  town  office.  If  any 
member  of  the  board  shall  engage  directly  or  indirectly 
in  the  manufacture  or  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors,  his  office 
shall  thereupon  become  vacant.  Each  member  of  said 
board  shall  have  been  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Montague 
for  at  least  two  years  immediately  preceding  his  election. 
Two  members  of  the  board  shall  be  a  quorum  for  the 
transaction  of  business. 

SECTION  3.  All  licenses  issued  in  the  said  town  for 
the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors,  or  for  innholders  or  com- 
mon victuallers,  shall  be  issued  and  signed  only  by  the 
said  board  of  license  commissioners,  and  shall  be  recorded 
in  their  office ;  and  all  the  powers  and  duties  relating  to 
said  licenses,  or  to  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors,  now  or 
hereafter  vested  in  the  selectmen  of  towns  shall  be  exer- 
cised and  performed  by  the  said  board. 

SECTION  4.  The  town  may  appropriate  a  reasonable 
sum  of  money  for  the  compensation  of  its  license  commis- 


ACTS,  1908.  —  CHAPS.  345,  361.  7" 

sioners,  and  shall  pay  reasonable  expenses  incurred  by  the 
board  for  blank  books,  printing  and  other  necessary  ex- 
penses, approved  by  the  board. 

SECTION  5.     This  act  shall  be  submitted  to  the  voters  Question  of 
of  the  town  of  Montague  at  the  next  annual  town  meeting 
or  at  a  special  meeting  called  for  the  purpose,  and  if  a 
majority  of  the  voters  voting  thereon  shall  vote  in  the 
affirmative  this  act  shall  take  effect. 

SECTION  6.     So  much  of  this  act  as  authorizes  its  sub-      en  to  take 
mission  to  the  voters  of  the  town  shall  take  effect  upon 
its  passage.  Approved  March  3,  190S. 


CHAPTER  345. 

AN  ACT  RELATIVE  TO  THE  NOMINATION  OF  SENATOR  FROM 
THE  FIRST  WORCESTER  DISTRICT,  AND  TO  THE  ELECTION 
OF  MEMBERS  OF  STATE  POLITICAL  COMMITTEES  FROM  SAID 
DISTRICT. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  asfollou'x: 

SECTION  1.     Nominations  by  political  parties  of  can-  Nomination  of 
didates  for  state  senator  from  the  first  Worcester  district  senator*  from01 


shall  be  made  in  caucuses  by  direct  plurality  vote. 

SECTION  2.     Members  of  state  political  committees  from  Members  of 
said  district  shall  be  elected  by  direct  plurality  vote  in  the  ties*™ 
caucuses  held  for  nominating  a  senator  from  said  district. 

O 

SECTION  3.     All  provisions  of  law  relative  to  caucuses  certain  pro- 
of political  parties  and  to  nominations  and  elections  in  toipply*. 
caucuses  by  direct  plurality  vote  and  to  ballots,  returns, 
and  the  duties  of  city  clerks  and  registrars,  so  far  as  they 
are  applicable,  shall  apply  to  caucuses  and  elections  held 
in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

SECTION  4.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 

Approved  April  3,  1908. 


CHAPTER  361. 

AN  ACT  RELATIVE  TO  TOWN  MEETINGS  IN  THE  TOAVN  OF 
WATERTOWN. 

Be  it  enacted)  etc.,  asfolloivs: 

SECTION  1.     At  all  town  meetins  held  in  the  town  of  o  be 


Watertown  the  town  shall  use  a  system  of  registering  used  at  town 


8  ACTS,  1908.  —  CHAP.  361. 


turnstiles  for  determining  the  number  of  voters  admitted 
to  each  meeting.  The  selectmen  shall  appoint  officers  to 
have  charge  of  the  turnstiles,  and  shall  determine  from  them 
the  number  of  voters  admitted  to  each  meeting,  and  at 
the  adjournment  thereof  shall  make  a  return  to  the  town 
clerk  under  oath,  which  may  be  administered  by  him,  of 
the  number  of  voters  who  have  been  admitted  to  such 
Returns  to  be  meeting,  as  registered  by  the  turnstiles.  The  town  clerk 
c'  shall  immediately  make  a  record  of  such  return  in  the 
records  of  the  meeting,  which  record  shall  have  the  same 
legal  force  and  effect  as  the  records  of  the  proceedings  of 
the  meeting.  All  such  returns  shall  be  preserved  by  the 
town  clerk  until  at  least  twenty  days  after  the  final  ad- 
journment or  dissolution  of  the  meeting  to  which  they 
relate,  and  shall  be  open  to  public  inspection. 

maryabe  lub68         SECTION  2.  Any   vote    passed   at   an   original  or   ad- 

fica«onfaf  aati"  Journe(^  town  meeting  to  which  three  hundred  and  fifty 

subsequent       or  more  voters  shall  have  been  admitted  shall,  upon  pe- 

etcv.ni          '  tition,  be  submitted  to  the  voters  at  large  for  ratification 

at  a  subsequent  town  meeting,  as  hereinafter  provided, 

except  that  votes  for  moderator,  or  for  any  town,  county, 

state  or  national  officer,  or  on  any  question  on  which  by 

any  special  or  general  law  of  the  commonwealth  a  yea  or 

nay  vote  is  required  to  be  taken  by  ballot,  shall  be  final. 

No  vote  subject   to  ratification   under  the  provisions  of 

this  act  shall  take  effect  until  the  expiration  of  the  time 

herein  limited  for  filing  a  petition  for  ratification  ;  nor,  if 

such  petition  be  filed,  until  after  such  vote  shall  be  rati- 

fied in  the  manner  hereinafter  provided. 

seaquengt?owSb"  SECTION  3.  If  within  five  days  after  the  final  adjourn- 
etc.  ment  or  dissolution  of  such  town  meeting  a  petition  ad- 
dressed to  the  selectmen  shall  be  filed  with  the  town 
clerk,  signed  by  at  least  fifty  legal  voters  of  the  town, 
requesting  that  any  vote  or  votes  passed  at  such  meet- 
ing, except  the  final  votes  before  mentioned,  be  submitted 
to  the  voters  of  the  town  for  ratification,  then  the  select- 
men shall,  after  the  expiration  of  said  five  days,  forthwith 
call  a  town  meeting  for  the  sole  purpose  of  so  submitting 
such  «vote  or  votes.  In  case  two  or  more  votes  passed  at 
a  town  meeting  relate  to  one  subject-matter,  and  a  peti- 
tion is  filed  as  aforesaid  for  the  ratification  of  one  or  more 
such  votes,  the  selectmen  may  in  their  discretion  submit, 
in  addition  to  those  for  which  petitions  are  filed,  any  or  all 
of  the  votes  relating  to  the  same  subject-matter  ;  and  for 


ACTS,  1908.  —  CHAP.  361.  ,  9 

this  purpose  a  vote  to  borrow  money  shall  be  held  to  relate 
to  the  same  subject-matter  as  the  vote  or  votes  to  appro- 
priate the  money  to  be  borrowed.  The  polls  shall  be 
opened  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  and  shall  be  closed 
not  earlier  than  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  a  vote 
shall  be  taken  by  ballot  upon  the  question,  "  Shall  the 
following  vote  (or  votes)  passed  at  the  town  meeting  (or 
at  the  adjourned  town  meeting)  held  on  the 
day  of  19  ,  be  ratified?  Vote: 

Any  vote  or  votes  submitted  for  ratification  as  aforesaid,  vote  receiving 

•    •  •       -x          jf  ±\  i     11    i,     a  majority  of 

receiving  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast  thereon,  shall  be  votes  cast  to  be 
considered  to  be  ratified,  otherwise  such  vote  or  votes  Stifled,!  etc. 
shall  have  no  force  or  effect :  provided,  that  if  any  vote  Proviso, 
required  for  its  original  passage  more  than  a  majority  of 
the  votes  cast,  then  a  like  proportion  of  votes  shall  be 
required  for  ratification. 

SECTION  4.     Every  petition  filed  as  aforesaid  shall  forth-  fxami°neVbbe 
with  be  examined  by  the  town  clerk,  who  shall  ascertain  town  clerk, 
therefrom  the  number  of  legal  voters  whose  signatures 
are  attached  thereto,  and  shall  make  a  record  thereof,  and 
such  record,  together  with  a  copy  of  the  petition,  ex- 
clusive of  the  names  affixed  thereto,  shall  be  inserted  in 
the  records  of  the  meeting  for  ratification  of  the  vote  or 
votes  named  in  the  petition,  which  record  shall  have  the 
same  legal  force  and  effect 'as  the  record  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  such  meeting.     All  such  petitions  shall  be  pre-  petitions  to  be 
served  by  the  town  clerk  until  at  least  twenty  days  after  Preserved>  etc- 
the  final  adjournment  or  dissolution  of  said  meeting,  and 
during  that  period  shall  be  open  to  public  inspection. 

SECTION  5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  selectmen  of  the  selectmen  to 
town  to  prepare  the  ballots  to  be  used  at  such  town  meet-  Ktejetc.bal 
ings,  and  the  conduct  of  such  meetings  shall  be  under 
their  charge,  subject  to  the  laws  relating  to  elections,  so 
far  as  the  same  may  be  applicable. 

SECTION  6.     A  meeting  shall  beheld  for  the  purpose  Question  of 
of  submitting  the  question  of  the  acceptance  of  this  act  to  SeSffiuM? 
the  legal  voters  of  the  town  at  some  time  within   two  to  voters' etc- 
years  after  the  passage  hereof.     At  such  meeting  the  polls 
shall  be  open  not  less  than  eight  hours,  and  the  vote  shall 
l>e  taken  by  ballot  as  in  the  case  of  the  annual  town  elec- 
tion, in  answer  to  the  question  "  Shall  an  act  passed  by 
the  general  court  in  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  eight, 
entitled  *  An  Act  relative  to  town  meetings  in  the  town 
of  Watertown ',  and  providing  for  the  ratification  of  cer- 


10 


ACTS,  1908.  — CHAP.  391. 


When  to  take 
effect. 


tain  votes  passed  at  such  meetings,  be  accepted  by  the 
town?  "and  the  affirmative  votes  of  a  majority  of  the 
voters  present  and  voting  thereon  shall  be  required  for 
its  acceptance.  If  at  any  meeting  so  held  this  act  shall 
fail  to  be  accepted,  it  may,  at  the  expiration  of  three 
months  after  any  such  previous  meeting,  be  submitted 
again  for  acceptance,  but  not  after  the  period  of  two  years 
from  the  passage  of  this  act. 

SECTION  7.  So  much  of  this  act  as  authorizes  the 
submission  of  the  question  of  its  acceptance  to  the  legal 
voters  of  the  town  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage,  but 
it  shall  not  take  further  effect  unless  accepted  by  the 
legal  voters  of  the  town  as  herein  prescribed. 

Approved  April  7,  1908. 


1907,  560,  §  307, 
par.  2, 
amended. 


County  treas- 
urer and  regis- 
ter of  deeds, 
vacancy. 


Temporary 
treasurer  may 
be  appointed. 


CHAPTER  391. 

AN  ACT  TO  AUTHORIZE  THE  APPOINTMENT  OF  TEMPORARY 
COUNTY  TREASURERS. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  asfolloivs: 

SECTION  1.  The  second  paragraph  of  section  three 
hundred  and  seven  of  chapter  five  hundred  and  sixty  of 
the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  -hundred  and  seven  is  hereby 
amended  by  adding  at  the  end  thereof  the  words  :  —  In 
case  of  the  inability  of  the  treasurer  of  any  county  to  act 
as  such  treasurer  by  reason  of  illness  or  absence  from  the 
county,  or  by  reason  of  any  other  cause,  the  county  com- 
missioners for  said  county  may  appoint  some  person  to  fill 
such  office  until  said  treasurer  is  able  to  resume  his  duties. 
The  person  appointed  to  act  as  temporary  treasurer  shall 
give  a  bond  to  secure  the  faithful  performance  of  his  duties , 
in  such  sum  and  with  such  sureties  as  said  county  com- 
missioners shall  approve,  —  so  that  said  paragraph  will 
read  as  follows  :  —  Upon  a  vacancy  by  removal  or  other- 
wise in  the  office  of  county  treasurer  or  of  register  of  deeds 
in  a  county  or  district,  except  the  counties  of  Suffolk  and 
Nantucket,  the  county  commissioners  shall  in  like  manner 
issue  precepts  for  an  election  to  fill  such  vacancy  at  the 
next  annual  state  election  for  which  precepts  can  be  sea- 
sonably issued,  and  may  appoint  some  person  to  fill  such 
office  until  a  person  is  elected  thereto  and  qualified.  In 
case  of  the  inability  of  the  treasurer  of  any  county  to  act 


ACTS,  1908.  — CHAP.  423.  11 

as  such  treasurer  by  reason  of  illness  or  absence  from  the 
county,  or  by  reason  of  any  other  cause,  the  county  com- 
missioners for  said  county  may  appoint  some  person  to 
fill  such  office  until  said  treasurer  is  able  to  resume  his 
duties.  The  person  appointed  to  act  as  temporary  treas-  TO  give  bonds. 
urer  shall  give  a  bond  to  secure  the  faithful  performance 
of  his  duties,  in  such  sum  and  with  such  sureties  as  said 
county  commissioners  shall  approve. 

SECTION  2.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 

Approved  April  13,  1908. 


CHAPTER  423. 

AN  ACT  RELATIVE  TO  CAUCUSES  AND  TO  THE  POSTING  OF 
SPECIMEN  BALLOTS. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.  Section  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  of 
chapter  five  hundred  and  sixty  of  the  acts  of  the  year 
nineteen  hundred  and  seven  is  hereby  amended  by  adding 
at  the  end  thereof  the  words  :  —  except  that  where  voting 
booths  are  provided  two  of  such  specimen  ballots  may  be 
posted  on  such  booth,  —  so  as  to  read  as  follows  :  —  Sec-  Delivery  of 
tion  133.  The  city  or  town  clerk,  or  in  Boston  the  elec- 
tion  commissioners,  before  the  opening  of  the  polls  on  the. 
day  of  the  caucus,  shall,  at  the  expense  of  the  city  or 
town,  prepare  and  deliver  at  the  polling  place  to  the  warden 
or,  if  he  is  not  present,  to  the  clerk  or,  if  both  are  absent, 
then  to  any  inspector,  ballot  boxes,  the  ballots,  specimen 
ballots,  voting  lists,  suitable  blank  forms  and  apparatus 
for  canvassing  and  counting  the  ballots  and  making  the 
returns,  a  seal  of  suitable  device  and  a  record  book  for 
each  polling  place.  The  presiding  officer  at  each  polling  specimen  bai- 
place  shall,  before  the  opening  of  the  caucus,  conspicu-  JSlted^etc. 
ously  post  in  such  polling  place  at  least  six  specimen  bal- 
lots, which  shall  be  kept  so  posted  until  the  polls  are  closed, 
except  that  where  voting  booths  are  provided  two  of  such 
specimen  ballots  may  be  posted  on  such  booth. 

SECTION  2.     Section  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  of  said  JJJemSi8 151' 
chapter   is   hereby  amended   by   striking    out   the  word 
"  herein",  in  the  last  line,  and  inserting  in  place  thereof 
the  words :  —  in  sections  one  hundred  and  forty-four  to 
one  hundred  and  sixty,  inclusive,  —  so  as  to  read  as  fol- 


12 


ACTS,  1908.  — CHAP.  425. 


viesi5i8ofr?aw  ^ows  :  —  Section  151.  The  provisions  of  law  relating  to 
to  apply.  election  officers,  voting  places  for  elections,  election  ap- 
paratus and  blanks,  calling  and  conduct  of  elections,  man- 
ner of  voting  at  elections,  counting  and  recounting  of 
votes  at  elections,  the  provisions  of  section  two  hundred 
and  seventy-six  of  this  chapter,  corrupt  practices,  and 
penalties,  shall  apply  to  primaries,  except  as  otherwise 
provided  in  sections  one  hundred  and  forty-four  to  one 
hundred  and  sixty,  inclusive. 

Approved  April  21,  1908. 


1907,  560,  §  175, 
amended. 


Certificates  of 
nomination 
and  nomina- 
tion papers, 
contents,  etc. 


Designation  in 
certain  cases. 


CHAPTEK  425. 

AN  ACT   RELATIVE   TO   THE   POLITICAL   DESIGNATION   OF 
CANDIDATES  FOR  PUBLIC  OFFICE. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1 .  Section  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  of 
chapter  five  hundred  and  sixty  of  the  acts  of  the  year 
nineteen  hundred  and  seven  is  hereby  amended  by  adding 
at  the  end  thereof  the  words  :  —  If  a  candidate  receives 
the  nomination  of  a  political  party,  and  fails  to  withdraw 
therefrom,  the  name  of  any  other  political  party  shall  not 
be  used  in  his  political  designation  unless  he  shall  have 
received  the  regular  nomination  of  such  other  political 
party,  —  so  as  to  read  as  follows  :  —  /Section  1 75.  All 
certificates  of  nomination  and  nomination  papers  shall,  in 
addition  to  the  names  of  candidates,  specify  as  to  each  : 

( 1 )  his  residence  with  street  and  number  thereof,  if  any  ; 

(2)  the  office  for  which  he  is  nominated ;  and  (3),  except 
as  hereinafter  provided,  the  party  or  political  principle 
which  he  represents,  expressed  in  not  more  than  three 
words.     Certificates  of  nomination  shall  also  state  what 
provision,  if  any,  was  made  by  the  caucus  or  convention 
for  filling  vacancies  caused  by  the  death,  withdrawal  or 
ineligibility  of  candidates.     The  names  of  the  candidates 
for  president  and  vice  president  of  the  United  States  may 
be  added  to  the  party  or  political  designation  of  the  can- 
didates for  presidential  electors.     To  the  name  of  each 
candidate  for  the  office  of  alderman  at  large  shall  be  added 
the  number  of  the  ward  in  which  he  resides. 

If  a  candidate  is  nominated  otherwise  than  by  a  political 
party,  the  name  of  a  political  party  shall  not  be  used  in 


ACTS,  1908.  — CHAP.  428.  13 

his  political  designation,  except  as  describing  and  preced-  Designation  in 
in«r  sonic  other  name  or  term  which  shall  not  be  the  c< 
name  of  any  party  which  cast  at  the  last  preceding  election 
more  than  three  thousand  votes  for  governor;  and  if  so 
u>ed  in  case  of  a  candidate  nominated  by  a  nomination 
paper,  the  political  designation  shall  consist  of  not  more 
than  two  words  and  shall  not  be  changed  after  having 
been  placed  upon  the  paper.  Certificates  of  nomination 
and  nomination  papers  for  town  offices  may  or  may  not 
include  a  designation  of  the  party  or  principle  which  the 
candidate  represents.  If  a  candidate  receives  the  nomi- 
nation of  a  political  party,  and  fails  to  withdraw  there- 
from, the  name  of  any  other  political  party  shall  not 
be  used  in  his  political  designation  unless  he  shall  have 
received  the  regular  nomination  of  such  other  political 
party. 

SECTION  2.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 

Approved  April  21,  1908. 


CHAPTER  428. 
AN  ACT  RELATIVE  TO  POLITICAL  CONVENTIONS. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc. , .  as  follows  : 

SECTION  1 .     Section  ninety-three  of  chapter  five  hun-  1907,  seo,  §  93, 
dred  and  sixty  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred  ai 
and  seven  is  hereby  amended  by  adding  at  the  end  thereof 
the  following  :  —  A  state  committee  may  make  rules  and 
regulations,  not  inconsistent  with  law,  for  calling  conven- 
tions for  the  nomination  of  state  officers,  —  so  as  to  read  as 
follows  :  —  Section  93.     A  state,  city  or  town  committee  committee 
may  make  rules  and  regulations,  not  inconsistent  with  SSesTSd^eg 
law,  for  its  proceedings  and  relative  to  caucuses  called  by  latiOD8» etc- 
it,  and  may  fix  the  number  of  persons  of  whom  it  shall 
consist,  which  number  shall  be  announced  in  the  call  for 
the  meeting  at  which  they  are  to  be  chosen.     Each  city 
or  town  committee  may  make  reasonable  regulations,  not 
inconsistent  with  law,  to  determine  membership   in  the 
party,  and   to  restrain    persons  not  entitled   to  vote  at   - 
caucuses  from  attendance  thereat  or  taking  part  therein. 
But  no  political  committee  shall  prevent  any  voter  from 
participating  in  a  caucus  of  its  party  for  the  reason  that 
the  voter   has   supported  an  independent  candidate  for 


14  ACTS,  1908.  — CHAP.  461. 

political  office.  A  state  committee  may  make  rules  and 
regulations,  not  inconsistent  with  law,  for  calling  conven- 
tions for  the  nomination  of  state  officers. 

SECTION  2.     This  act  shall  take  eifect  upon  its  passage. 

Approved  April  21,  1908^ 


CHAPTER  461. 
AN    ACT    RELATIVE    TO    THE    PUBLICATION    OF    OFFICIAL 

BALLOTS    FOR    STATE    AND    CITY    ELECTIONS. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 
1907,  see,  §  24i,        Chapter  five  hundred  and  sixty  of  the  acts  of  the  year 

amended.  .  •     i/      i  L   -i 

nineteen  hundred  and  seven  is  hereby  amended  by  strik- 
ing out  section  two  hundred  and  forty-one  and  inserting  in 
place  thereof  the  following  :  —  Section  241.  The  secre- 
dates°etcandi"  ^  °^  ^e  commonwealth  before  every  state  election  shall 
state  and  city  cause  to  be  published  a  list  of  all  candidates  to  be  voted 
published.0  *'  for  in  each  senatorial  district,  except  in  the  county  of 
Suffolk,  and  the  question  of  the  approval  and  ratification 
of  any  proposed  amendment  to  the  constitution,  and  the 
city  clerks,  in  Boston  the  election  commissioners,  before 
every  city  election  shall  cause  to  be  published  a  list  of  all 
candidates  to  be  voted  for  in  their  respective  cities.  Such 
lists  and  questions  shall  be  in  the  form,  as  near  as  may 
be,  in  which  they  are  to  appear  upon  the  official  ballot, 
and  said  publication  shall  be  made  for  state  elections  in 
each  senatorial  district  in  at  least  four  newspapers  in  the 
English  language,  if  there  are  so  many  in  that  district, 
except  in  the  county  of  Suffolk,  and  in  the  county  of 
Suffolk  such  publication  shall  be  made  in  at  least  four 
newspapers  in  the  English  language  published  therein. 
Such  publication,  so  far  as  is  practicable,  shall  be  in  news- 
papers representing  the  two  leading  political  parties,  and 
at  such  reasonable  cost  as  may  be  determined  by  the 
secretary  of  the  commonwealth.  For  city  elections  such 
publication  shall  be  made  in  at  least  two  newspapers  rep- 
resenting the  two  leading  political  parties,  if  there  are  so 
many  in  the  city,  devoted  wholly  or  chiefly  to  the  pub- 
lication of  general  or  local  news. 

Approved  April  28,  1908. 


ACTS,  1908.  —  CHAPS.  480,  483.  15 


CHAPTER  480. 

AN  ACT  TO  AUTHORIZE  AX  EXTENSION  OF  THE  TIME  AL- 
LOWED FOR  THE  LISTING  OF  VOTERS  IN  THE  CITY  OF 

BOSTON. 

Be  it  enacted)  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.     If  in  any  year  the  police  commissioner  Time  allowed 
for  the  city  of  Boston  shall  believe  it  to  be  impracticable,  ofVoter^in^ 
because  of  any  public  exigency  requiring  unusual  service  tended. ex 
from  the  police  force  of  the  city,  to  complete  within  the 
first  seven  week  days  of  May  the  house-to-house  visitation 
provided  for  by  section  seventy  of  chapter  five  hundred 
and  sixty  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and 
seven,  and  to  transmit  to  the  election  commissioners  on 
or  before  the  eighteenth  day  of  May  the  lists  described  in 
section  seventy-one  of  said  chapter,  he  shall  have  authority, 
after  having  given  notice  in  writing  to  the  listing  board 
and  to  the  board  of  election  commissioners  of  the  city,  to 
take  such  further  time  for  said  visitation  and  transmission, 
not  exceeding  ten  wreek  days,  as  he  shall  deem  necessary. 

SECTION  2.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 

Approved  May  1,  1908. 


CHAPTER  483. 

Ax  ACT  TO  PROHIBIT  THE  MAKING  OF  POLITICAL  CONTRI- 
BUTIONS BY  BUSINESS  CORPORATIONS. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1 .    No  business  corporation  incorporated  under  Making  of  po- 
the  laws  of,  or  doing  business  in  this  commonwealth,  and  bSSois°by 
no  officer  or  agent  acting  in  behalf  of  such  corporation,  jJSSSmB^,. 
shall  pay  or  contribute  in  order  to  aid,  promote  or  prevent  wwted,  etc. 
the  nomination  or  election  of  any  person  to  public  office 
or  in  order  to  aid,  promote  or  antagonize  the  interests  of 
any  political  party.     No  person  shall  solicit  or  receive 
such  payment  or  contribution  from  such  corporation. 

SECTION  2.     Any  corporation  violating  the  provisions  Penalty. 
of  this  act  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not  more  than 
ten  thousand  dollars,  and  any  officer,  director  or  agent  of 
a  corporation  violating  any  provision  of  this  act  or  author- 
izing such  violation,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not 


16 


ACTS,  1908.  —  CHAP.  500. 


?ie8k)an?ofr?aw 
not  affected, 


more  than  five  thousand  dollars  or  by  imprisonment  for 
not  more  than  six  months. 

SECTION  3.  Nothing  in  this  act  shall  be  construed  as 
affecting  the  provisions  of  chapter  five  hundred  and  eighty- 
one  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  seven. 

Approved  May  1,  1908. 


CHAPTER  500. 
AN  ACT  TO  REDUCE  THE  NUMBER  OF  THE  SCHOOL  COM- 

MITTEE   OF    THE    CITY    OF    SALEM    TO    SEVEN    MEMBERS. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

school  commit.  SECTION  1.  The  school  committee  of  the  city  of  Salem 
er  m  s,  shall  hereafter  consist  of  seven  members,  six  of  whom  shall 
be  elected  in  the  following  manner  :  —  At  the  first  munic- 
ipal election  held  after  this  act  has  taken  effect,  as  here- 
inafter provided,  the  qualified  voters  of  each  ward  shall 
elect  one  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  ward  to  be  a  member 
of  said  committee.  The  members  so  elected  from  wards 
one  and  six  shall  hold  their  offices  for  the  term  of  one 
year  from  the  first  Monday  of  January  next  following  their 
election  ;  the  members  so  elected  from  wards  two  and 
three  shall  hold  their  offices  for  the  term  of  two  years  from 
said  first  Monday  of  January  ;  and  the  members  so  elected 
from  wards  four  and  five  shall  hold  their  offices  for  the 
term  of  three  years  from  said  first  Monday  of  January. 
At  every  subsequent  annual  municipal  election  the  quali- 
fied voters  of  each  of  those  wards  from  which  the  members 
whose  terms  of  office  are  about  to  expire  were  elected, 
shall  elect  an  inhabitant  of  such  ward  as  a  member  of  said 
committee  to  serve  for  the  term  of  three  years  from  the 
first  Monday  of  January  next  following  his  election.  The 
mayor  shall  be  a  member,  ex  officio,  of  the  committee  and 
vacancies,  etc.  chairman  thereof.  Vacancies  in  the  committee  arising 
from  the  death,  resignation,  or  otherwise,  of  a  member 
from  any  ward,  shall  be  filled  as  aforesaid  for  the  unex- 
pired  term  at  the  next  annual  municipal  election.  The 
school  committee  shall  serve  without  compensation. 
when  terms  SECTION  2.  The  persons  elected  as  aforesaid,  and  the 
8chPorofcommit-  mayor,  ex  officio,  shall  annually,  upon  the  first  Monday 
tee  siu  nd,  ^  January,  or  as  soon  thereafter  as  may  be,  meet  and 
organize  ;  and  upon  the  organization  of  the  committee 
first  chosen  under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  the  terms  of 
office  of  the  members  of  the  present  school  committee  of 


ACTS,  1908.  — CHAP.  518.  17 

the  city  of  Salem  shall  terminate,  and  said  members  shall 
cease  to  have  or  exercise  any  authority  conferred  upon  the 
school  committee  of  said  city  by  section  two  of  chapter 
one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  of  the  acts  of  the  year 
eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-eight  or  by  any  other  provision 
of  law. 

SECTION  3.     The   members  of  the    school    committee  powers  and 
elected  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act,  and  d 
the  mayor,  ex  officio,  shall  be  the  successors  of  the  present 
school  committee  of  the  city,  and  shall  have  and  perform 
all  the  powers  and  duties  now  or  hereafter  conferred  or 
imposed  by  law  upon  the  school  committee  of  said  city. 

SECTION  4.     So  much  of  any  act  as  is  inconsistent  here-  Repeal, 
with  is  hereby  repealed. 

SECTION  5.     This  act  shall  be  submitted  to  the  voters  Question  of 
of  the  city  at  the  next  annual  state  election,  and  the  form  bTsuSmed0 
of  the  question  to  be  placed  upon  the  ballot  shall  be  as  to  voters> 
follows  :  —  Shall  an  act  of  the  general  court  passed  in  the 
year  nineteen  hundred  and  eight,  entitled  "  An  Act  to 
reduce  the  number  of  the  school  committee  of  the  city  of 
Salem  to  seven  members  ",  be  accepted?  and  if  a  majority 
of  the  voters  voting  thereon  at  said  election  shall  vote  in 
the  affirmative  this  act  shall  take  effect. 

SECTION  6.     So  much  of  this  act  as  authorizes  its  sub-  when  to  take 
mission  to  the  voters  of  the  city  shall  take  effect  upon  its  el 
passage,  but  it  shall  not  take  further  effect  until  accepted 
as  herein  provided.  Approved  May  7,  1908. 


CHAPTER  518. 

AN   ACT  TO  LIMIT  THE   NUMBER  OF  PERSONS  THAT   MAY  BE 
EMPLOYED    BY    POLITICAL    COMMITTEES    IN    CITIES. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.     The  number  of  persons  that  may  be  em-  Number  of 
ployed  by  political  committees  in  cities  for  any  purpose, 
except  as  caucus  officers,  shall  not  exceed  six  persons  in 
each   voting   precinct    of  the  city.     In  cities,   or  parts  tee  limited, 
thereof,  not  divided  into  precincts,  the  number  shall  not 
exceed  six  for  each  ward. 

SECTION  2.     Whoever  violates  any  provision  of  this  penalty, 
act  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  not  exceeding  one  hundred 
dollars,   or    by    imprisonment    for    not    exceeding    three 
months,  or  by  both  such  fine  and  imprisonment. 

Approved  May  14,  1908. 


